consultants local to Glasgow area: hi, I’ve... - Thyroid UK

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consultants local to Glasgow area

Fiona1510 profile image
18 Replies

hi, I’ve decided to go private to see an endocrinologist re my thyroid - min 12 month waiting list currently. My antibodies are high, and I feel as though the left side of my neck is constricted at times others it’s like a tight band round my throat. For the past year my heat intolerance has got worse. I can be sitting comfortably in a room of 17-18 degrees Celsius and suddenly my body literally feels on fire with my temperature jumping up to 39 degrees C.

I’ve got a list from thyroid Uk with info for doctors, however, I’m in Glasgow and am struggling to find someone close at hand. Does anyone know of any local consultants?

Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated. Thank you

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Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510
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18 Replies
Thalia56 profile image
Thalia56

In case you don’t get anywhere locally, please be aware that many of the consultants and doctors on the TUK list have been offering video appointments since the pandemic started.

I hope you find someone who can help you.

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toThalia56

thank you so much, I didn’t realise that. Certainly helps when there’s not a lot near at hand x

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Before considering booking any private consultation

You need FULL thyroid and vitamin testing. Ideally via GP but frequently necessary to organise yourself privately

Sounds like you are not yet on any replacement thyroid hormones

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am (and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test )

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

As you have high thyroid antibodies, GP should do coeliac blood test

Have you had this yet?

Please add any recent results

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toSlowDragon

thank you so much. My GP is really good, actually gave me into trouble as I’d done my own antibodies and Vit test. He referred me on due to the high antibodies. I’ve not had a coeliac blood test but am due to get bloods done soon so will speak to him and get these added so I’ve got them for the private consultation. Thank you for the full reply and links. Really appreciate it. I will post my results when I get them.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFiona1510

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

1.1 Recognition of coeliac disease

 1.1.1 Offer serological testing for coeliac disease to:

people with any of the following: 

persistent unexplained abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms 

faltering growth

prolonged fatigue 

unexpected weight loss

severe or persistent mouth ulcers

unexplained iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency

type 1 diabetes, at diagnosis

autoimmune thyroid disease, at diagnosis

irritable bowel syndrome (in adults)

first‑degree relatives of people with coeliac disease.

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toSlowDragon

I should’ve added earlier I’ve been on Levothyroxine 150mcgs for years. I also have Inflammatory arthritis which is fairly well controlled

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toSlowDragon

Hi, I’ve finally got a private consultation next Saturday and got my blood results that I will post below. Any thoughts on them would be hugely appreciated and helpful. I’ve just realised my haematology results are not here. Will chase them up tomorrow.

TTG Ab 0.3 U/ml. normal range 0.0-7.0

Sodium 140 NR 133-146

Potassium 4.3. NR 3.5-5.3

Chloride 103. NR 95-108

Urea 4.4. NR 2.5-7.8

Creatinine 72 NR 40-130

EGFR >60 NR >60

Thyroid peroxide.A Bs 131 NR <6.0

Total T3 1.6 NR 0.9-2.5

TSH <0.01 NR 0.35-5.00

Free T4 19.7 NR 9.0-21

Total T3 1.6 NR 0.9-2.5

Vit D

25-OH 65 NV >50 adequate

Serum ferritin 74ug/l NR 15-200

Serum folate 2.7 NR 3.1-20.0

Serum B12 326 NR 200-883

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFiona1510

high thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Total T3 is an outdated test - but seems standard test in Scotland

You need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested together

FT4: 19.7 pmol/l (Range 9 - 21)

Ft4 at 89.17% through range

TT3 : 1.6 pmol/l (Range 0.9 - 2.5)

TT3 only 43.75% through range

Shows you’re currently poor converter of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to TT3 (active hormone)

A normal working thyroid makes Approx 80-90% Ft4 but crucially 10-20% Ft3

Many, many people on just levothyroxine have results like yours

Ft4 too high …..TT3 or Ft3 too low

Looking to have Ft4 and Ft3 much more in balance at approximately 70% each

But if you reduce levothyroxine dose to bring Ft4 down to 70% ……Ft3 will drop far too low

First step is to get all four vitamins at OPTIMAL levels

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

B12 and folate are far too low

Folate is deficient - optimal is near 20:

B12 inadequate - optimal is at least over 500

Vitamin D too low - optimal is at least over 80nmol and nearer 100nmol might be better

Ferritin ok - but at least 100 can help reduce symptoms

Are you currently on strictly gluten free diet or dairy free diet?

Both are always worth trying

Get coeliac blood test BEFORE considering cutting gluten out

Approx how old are you

Very common for conversion of Ft4 to get worse after menopause

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toSlowDragon

thank you so much. I really struggle to get my brain around T3/T4 conversion. I'm currently on folic acid and nothing else. I will start vit D as got some and look at something for my other vitamins. I'm hopeful the doc I'm seeing on Saturday can help with sorting out some T3 for me to get things more balanced as I'm constantly tired, depressed and have insomnia

I'm not on any type of diet but am looking at gluten free. I'm 57 and post menopausal. Again thank you for sharing your knowledge it's hugely appreciated ❤️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFiona1510

Personally I would give improving vitamin levels and changing diet at least 3 months to see how significantly it can improve conversion rate before considering adding T3

Other things to consider

Always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Trying splitting levothyroxine as half dose waking and half dose at bedtime

Dairy free as well as gluten free (it’s not as daunting as it sounds …..once you get used to it )

Test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 in 2-3 months

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Get full TSH, Ft4 and Ft3, antibodies and vitamins once year

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Many Hashimoto’s patients see TPO antibodies slowly reduce on gluten free/dairy free diet

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFiona1510

 A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing

Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential

Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial

Hashimoto’s and leaky gut often occur together

Both dairy and gluten are inflammatory foods

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFiona1510

Vitamin D

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

U.K. Government recommends everyone supplement vitamin D at very least daily from October to April

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing 

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7. 

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

Another member recommended this one recently

Vitamin D with k2

amazon.co.uk/Strength-Subli...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease 

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease 

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium 

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFiona1510

Low B12 symptoms 

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as folic acid

once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you can probably reduce and then stop the separate B12 (unless vegetarian or vegan) and just carry on with the folic acid prescribed for folate deficiency ….Once folic acid prescription is finished then change to a daily GOOD QUALITY vitamin B Complex.

B12 drops 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

B12 sublingual lozenges 

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Folate deficiency

Initially you need folic acid prescription from GP

Once this is finished….

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) 

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help maintain B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid 

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) 

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20 

If you want to try a different brand in the meantime, one with virtually identical doses of the ingredients, and bioavailable too, then take a look at Vitablossom Liposomal B Complex. Amazon sometimes has it branded Vitablossom but it's also available there branded as Yipmai, it's the same supplement

amazon.co.uk/Yipmai-Liposom...

or available as Vitablossom brand here

hempoutlet.co.uk/vitablosso... &description=true

Or 

Igennus Vitamin B complex. Nice small tablets. Full dose is 2 tablets per day. Most people are fine with just single tablet 

igennus.com/products/super-...

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue separate B12

How other member saw how effective improving low B vitamins has been 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

many, many Hashimoto’s patients need to supplement vitamin B complex, vitamin D and magnesium daily to maintain OPTIMAL vitamin levels

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you for the information. Hugely appreciated. Just an update as finally saw a private endo.

I’ve been started on T3 5 mg twice daily and my Levo dropped to 100mcgs. My GP did my prescription today so hopefully I will have them by Thursday. Fingers crossed they help my symptoms although they may need to be tweaked a bit but time will tell.I’m getting an ultrasound next month as my thyroid is calcified - noted on an old X-ray and my antibodies are high so possibly got an adenoma which can be removed using a Glasgow ENT Surgeon on the NHS if required.

I’m going to take a look at vitamin replacement as you mentioned and get some tablets. Here’s hoping in a few months I’m more like my old self instead of someone who feels 80 on a daily basis x

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFiona1510

So currently on 150mcg levothyroxine

Folate deficient

B12 inadequate

Vitamin D inadequate

Have you started on vitamin D

2 weeks later starting separate B12 and week after that added vitamin B complex

Vitamins need to be optimal really BEFORE starting T3

Reducing levothyroxine by highly likely 50mcg is too much. Expect Ft4 will drop too much.

Generally reducing by 25mcg maximum

Starting T3 guidelines on here (patient experience)

reduce levothyroxine 4-5 days before adding just 5mcg T3 waking (or split as 2.5mcg waking and 2.5mcg mid-late afternoon)

After a week or so add 2nd 5mcg dose T3

Wait 6-8 weeks and retest

ALWAYS test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test. Last dose 5mcg dose T3 Approx 8-12 hours before test

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toSlowDragon

hi, yes I’ve been on Vit D and folic acid. Ordered the yipmia last night. Thank you

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Hi, The Glasgow Parliament had a big discussion in the provision of thyroid hormones some months ago and I'll give you a link.

You could always approach/letter to Elaine Smith MP who brought the case before the Members that we should be prescribed thyroid hormones that restore our health.

thyroidtrust.org/scottish-p...

Fiona1510 profile image
Fiona1510 in reply toshaws

thank you, I know of her case, my dad talks about her all the time.

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